Free Republic

By the time he’d driven his black Crown Victoria 10 minutes to the Ghost Ship fire, he’d transformed himself from Catholic priest to “minister of presence.”... “As first responders, we don’t always know what to say to somebody who’s had this terrible situation. Some are better than others, but Father Landeza is as good as they get.”... “As first responders, we don’t always know what to say to somebody who’s had this terrible situation. Some are better than others, but Father Landeza is as good as they get.”... “Just stand there and listen to people talk about what’s going on,”...

full title......................Fury at the man behind illegal artist enclave where up to 33 died in fire: Organizer of 'death trap' Oakland commune makes self-pitying statement complaining that 'everything I worked for is gone' ................Derick Ion Almena has been identified as the operator of the Ghost Ship venue and Satya Yuga Art Collective where a fire broke out Friday night He wrote: 'Everything I worked so hard for is gone. Blessed that my children and Micah were at a hotel safe and sound' 'It's as if I have awoken from a dream filled with opulence and hope.... to be standing now...